Pranab, Antony yet to discuss Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam

Murshidabad/New Delhi, Oct.31 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K.Antony said on Sunday that they were yet to discuss and form any opinion over the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society issue.

Both the Union Ministers have been assigned the responsibility of probing into the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Mukherjee today avoided to say anything on the issue before journalists in Murshidabad, as he said he could not say anything over the matter before meeting the other member of his panel Mr. Antony.

"I understand Soniaji has asked Mr. Antony and me to look into all papers and give our observation to her because Ashok has expressed his desire to tender the resignation to the Congress President. Before she takes a decision, she expects us to examine the papers and give our observation," he told reporters here today

But expressing his inability to form any opinion over the matter Mr. Mukherjee said, "How can I do it sitting in Murshidabad and Mr. Antony sitting in Delhi, unless we meet. Therefore, when we'll meet, we'll take decision."

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Defence Minister A.K.Antony said, " We are investigating the matter. The investigation will take time but not unusual time."

Antony said this on the sidelines of presentation of the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in the national capital. t may be noted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has offered to resign following allegations that his mother-in-law, who died earlier this year, owned a flat as well as two of his other relatives.

The Congress President on Saturday set up the two-member panel to probe how the 31-storeyed plush Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society came up on a piece of land meant for the families of Kargil martyrs and the allotment of flats to politicians, bureaucrats and military officials.

Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded Chavan's immediate resignation and a probe by a sitting Supreme Court Judge into the scam. (ANI)